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IRB

The IRB - Improved Ribbon Bridge provides wet-gap crossing capabilities either as a floating bridge or as a multi-bay raft for tracked and wheeled combat and tactical vehicles for loads up to MLC 80T/96W.

IRB has seen extensive combat operations with the U.S. Army and the U.S. Marine Corps since 2003. It maintains full interoperability with the legacy SRB - Standard Ribbon Bridge and the FSB- Floating Support Bridge, which makes it the standard floating bridge in the Western hemisphere.

As part of the NATO Exercise Anakonda 2016, an Improved Ribbon Bridge (IRB) was set up by the United States and German Armies and a Standard Ribbon Bridge by Dutch engineers. Both systems are fully interoperable and require the same operational skills and bridge building procedures.

Load CapacityThe IRB provides state of the art loading capabilities up to MLC 80 (T) / 96 (W) that can be crossed by all NATO MBTs such as the Leopard 2, M1A2 Abrams and the Challenger 2. It can operate in significant water currents, enabling all types of platform to cross a gap when used as part of a bridge or as a multi-bay ferry.

Interoperability
It is interoperable with other bridging solutions - the M3 and SRB (Standard Ribbon Bridge)/FSB(Floating Support Bridge). We also offer coupling devices to ensure the right interface at any time. That makes the IRB the right fit for coalitions which use different types of equipment but operate jointly. If necessary, the IRB can be supported by a BEB (Bridge Erection Boat) which provides the user with a high performance multipurpose boat.

Combat ProvenOur bridges have been successfully used in allied maneuvers such as Anakonda 2016 in Poland or in real combat zones (Iraq) allowing military operations to keep flowing regardless of the combat theater. IRB offers superior performance and reliability under differing climate conditions in exercises and combat operations. Tactical deployability is guaranteed as it can be transported by rotary aircraft, on trucks or on railway flatbed cars.

Low Maintenance
Low maintenance needs and ease for long-term storage help contribute to the IRB’s reasonable life cycle costs. Transport needs are also reduced thanks to its modular design. Combat experience is the key to linking a customer’s engineering needs with real combat environment, to be able to offer them robust, customized and realistic solutions which result in lower maintenance/upgrading costs during the bridge’s life cycle.

About General Dynamics European Land Systems

General Dynamics European Land Systems is a Europe based business unit of General Dynamics Corporation. Our products range from wheeled armored and tracked combat vehicles to amphibious bridges and ferry systems, with people all around the world relying on our systems and services.